Tigers taste 48-run win in first ODI against WI

Sports Desk: Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh’s inspirational captain, led the charge with the ball in hand, bagging four wickets for 37 runs from 10 overs to ensure Tigers’ first competitive fixture victory in the West Indies tour as they beat the hosts by 48 runs in the first ODI at Guyana.

In the end, it took a team effort from Bangladesh to pull off a victory following the disastrous Test series defeat.

Mashrafe and Mehedi Miraz bowled economically at the start after Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan had laid the foundation for victory with a 207-run second-wicket stand to ensure a strong 279/4 on the scoreboard.

Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan made 207 runs in the second wicket to lead Bangladesh to 279 for 4 and then skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza bagged four wickets to flatten the Caribbean who could only manage 231 for 9.
 
The 280-run target did not look too difficult for a team that boasted the likes of Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis and Andre Russell, but the Bangladesh bowlers were right on their job to record a comfortable win.
 
Barring Gayle (40 off 60 balls) and highest scorer Shimron Hetmyer (52 in 78 deliveries), no hosts batsmen threatened the visiting bowlers, who kept picking up wickets every now and then.
 
Mustafizur Rahman bagged two wickets while Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Rubel Hossain bagged one apiece.
 
Mashrafe ended the day with the figure 10-1-37-4 and Bangladesh lament what could have been in the Tests had he played those longer version games.
 

Winning the toss, Mashrafe had opted to bat first, but opener Anamul Haque was sent to the pavillion by West Indies captain Jason Holder with only one run on board.

Tamim and Shakib then steered the team clear of danger. Both the batsmen slowed down a little as they inched closer to century, but with the bowlers playing their part to clinch a win, the slow batting of the duo will certainly be forgotten.

Shakib was unfortunate to miss out on a century, giving a catch to Shimron Hetmyer on 97. His 121-ball innings featured six fours.

Tamim did seal his 10th ODI ton, making an unbeaten 130 off 160 balls courtesy of 10 fours and three sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim slammed 30 in just 11 balls late on to take the visitors to a fighting total that in the end proved too much for the hosts.

The second match of the series will be played on 25 July and a win in that will seal the series.

Right after the Tests it looked impossible but Mashrafe has rejuvenated the side and as long as he is there, everything is possible.

Bangladesh XI: Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

West Indies XI: Jason Holder (captain), Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Mohammed, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, Ashley Nurse, Devendra Bishoo, Alzarri Joseph


risingbd/July 23, 2018/Mukul